IN A FORWARD COLLISION, STRONG ENOUGH FOR MY HEAD TO PUNCH A 2 INCH HEMISPHERICAL INDENTATION INTO THE WINDSHIELD, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE IMPACT OF MY HEAD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD RESULTED IN A MODERATE CONCUSSION. *LA
1992 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 98 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
98 reportsWHEN ENTERING THE CAR & SITTING DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT, THE BRACKET SUPPORTING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT BACK BROKE. THE SEAT IS NOW UNUSABLE & MUST BE REPLACED.*AK
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN DRIVE AND FIRST GEAR. *AK
CONSUMER REQUESTING INFO ON PASSENGER. NAR 06/18/2003 *MR PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB
THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE MIRROR.*JB
IN 1998 DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AT THAT TIME I HAD DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAD A SECOND DISTRIBUTOR PUT IN 6/22/2000 AFTER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICE LIGHT AND DIAGNOSE POINTED TO BAD DISTRIBUTOR AGAIN. NOW IT 2002 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE SAM…
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IN 1998 DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AT THAT TIME I HAD DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAD A SECOND DISTRIBUTOR PUT IN 6/22/2000 AFTER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICE LIGHT AND DIAGNOSE POINTED TO BAD DISTRIBUTOR AGAIN. NOW IT 2002 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER, I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SOON. DIAGNOSE CODE OF 9 FLASHES ON THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. POINTS MAYBE TO DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE AGAIN. I AM SUBMITTING THIS IN AN EFFORT TO BE REIMBURSTED BY HONDA FOR REPAIRS I PAID FOR. I ALSO WANT HONDA TO KNOW THERE DISTRIBUTORS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I DISCOVERED THAT THE DISTRIBUTORS FOR 1991-1993 ACCORD AND 199201993 CIVICS ALL HAVE COMMON PROBLEMS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE AND REAR WHEEL ON LEFT HAND SIDE DISENGAGED. *AK DEALER STRAIGHTENED OUT RIM AND REBALANCED TIRE. *TT
VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING DUE TO THE TIRES. TREAD WAS SEPARATING ON 3 OF THE TIRES, AND A BUBBLE WAS FOUND ON THE OTHER TIRE. TIRE SIZE P175/70R13. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR HONDA, CIVIC, 1992. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER, (1 TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE), WHO FEELS THAT ALL 4 …
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VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING DUE TO THE TIRES. TREAD WAS SEPARATING ON 3 OF THE TIRES, AND A BUBBLE WAS FOUND ON THE OTHER TIRE. TIRE SIZE P175/70R13. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR HONDA, CIVIC, 1992. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH A CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER, (1 TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE), WHO FEELS THAT ALL 4 SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FREE DUE TO DEFECTS. *JG*AK
VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, THIS WAS THE ONLY TIRE ON THE VEHICLE THAT WAS MADE BY YOKOHAMA.(TIRE SIZE P185/70R13). OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *YH
Official recalls
194V063000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Apr 10, 1994
A RETAINING CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUATING ROD CAN HAVE INSUFFICIENT RETENTION PRESSURE AND MAY EVENTUALLY COME OFF AFTER REPEATED SHIFT LEVER OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED RETAINING CLIP.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP00007 · Ignition Distributor
Opened Nov 13, 2000 · Closed Oct 25, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE OR A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Illustration